Denver brings the stronger early-season profile, but Phoenix’s Booker-led attack can make this a test of the Nuggets’ defense.
Denver enters at 2-2 and 17th in the power index, ahead of Phoenix at 1-2 and 22nd. The Suns are allowing 123.7 points per game while scoring 109.3; Denver scores 110.8 and gives up 114. Devin Booker is averaging 23 points and 5.3 assists, while Nikola Jokic has 22 points, 10.5 rebounds and 9 assists per game—the matchup turns on whether Phoenix can disrupt his all-court creation without letting Booker’s offense become a shootout. Phoenix’s center depth is a question: Mark Williams is out and Oso Ighodaro is listed as questionable, making its interior defense a key factor against Jokic.